







In English we use the present simple tense to talk about facts or things that are always true, as well as things in general. Present simple is also used to talk about a repeated action such as a habit, a hobby, a daily event, a scheduled event or something that often happens.
In English we use 'do' and 'does' as auxiliary verbs in negatives and questions and we often use the present simple with adverbs of frequency such as sometimes, always, often, never, usually, rarely, and hardly ever.
Notes for use of present simple :
In the third person, ‘s’ is added to the verb form. For example;
work --> works
run --> runs
live --> lives
For verbs that end in 'o', 'sh', 'ch', 's' and 'x', we add 'es' to the verb form. For example;
go --> goes
wish --> wishes
watch --> watches
kiss --> kisses
fax --> faxes
For verbs that end in a consonant + 'y', we change the 'y' to 'i' and add 'es'. For example;
try --> tries
study --> studies
The table below shows the different forms of present simple :
Example Verb : Work | I / You / We / They | He / She / It |
| Positive | ... work. | ... works. |
| Negative | ... don't work. | ... doesn't work. |
Questions | Do ... work? | Does ... work? |
| Short answers | Yes, ... do. / No, ... don't. | Yes, ... does. / No, ... doesn't. |
For the verb 'to be' we use 'am', 'is', 'are' in the present simple. No auxiliary verbs are used in negative sentences and questions.
Verb: Be | I | You / We / They | He / She / It |
| Positive | I'm ... | ... 're ... | ... 's ... |
| Negative | I'm not ... | ... aren't ... | ... isn't ... |
| Questions | Am I ... ? | Are ... ...? | Is ... ...? |
| Short answers | Yes, I am. / No, I'm not. | Yes, ... are. / No, ... aren't. | Yes, ... is. / No, ... isn't. |
Present Simple Example Sentences :
Positive Examples of Present Simple :
Negative Examples of Present Simple :
Question Examples of Present Simple :
| Present simple example sentences | |
|---|---|
| Yeah, I think it's a bit early to knock on someone's door! | |
| You sound like a mix of British and Australian. | |
| I haven't been there before, where is it? | |
| I am, I have to be there at 12:30. | |
| That's why you can't find the answer! | |
| Maybe she really is allergic to cats, we don't know that. | |
| Is it because it's too violent? | |
| I'm so sorry about the inconvenience. | |
| As I'm a smoker, I prefer sitting outside. | |
| That's okay, I don't mind. | |
| 50% of 135 is 67.50... And it comes to totally 202.50. | |
| Do you have another one? | |
| Hello dear, how is it going, do you need any help? | |
| 5 bedroom detached house on Lyme Street, £2,800, is that right? | |
| Why? It looks pretty clean to me! | |
| Then I want to roast it, though. | |
| I can bring him with me when I come back for breakfast. | |
| Why don't you get it then? Do you want to see upstairs or not? | |
| And Pogo gets very scared of the crowd and the noise. | |
| Do you have a cigarette? | |